ISRAEL UPDATEAugust 11, 2002 - It is Wednesday, July 31, 2002, and I am awakened at 5:00 a.m. to the sickening report once again of yet another terrorist bombing in Israel.
This time, the target was the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, a place where both Arabs and Jews come together and study - only on this day 7 people died and 85 were injured.
Once again the camera footage showed the stark contrast as Israelis weep and lament the death and destruction, but the militant Palestinians danced in the streets, rejoicing over the death and mayhem - just as they did on September 11, 2001, as the towers of the World Trade Center collapsed.
But there are many unanswered questions - as the reason for this attack was due to the Israeli killing of a radical terrorist. This man was planning what was to be the most horrendous terror attack in Israel's history.
Why the confusion? Because fundamentalist Islamic radicals boast that they wish to die a martyr for their cause and are willing to do whatever it takes.
Yet when Israel retaliates in order to protect her civilian populace, these same people who were willing to die and sacrifice their children, want to cry foul and demand world retribution.
First, these attacks are intended to remove the of “yoke of Israeli occupation”. Second, it is retaliation for Israel's defense, but in either case, it appears hundreds are dying… not knowing why.
August 11, 2002 - Watch out for the dangers of Bible interpretation that causes problems, lest you fall into the snares of bad doctrine.
For instance, some people say the seven churches of Revelation chapter 2 and 3 were written to us as one judgement to the believers of that day, having no bearing on future events.
There are some that say the seven churches defined seven different times of church history and are to be used in a practical application.
Again, we find those who say the seven churches are to be seen as identification with the church of today.
But there are some that believe the seven churches of Asia Minor do the following: they give us insight into the churches persecution under Rome, and they're good way to define church history.
But they also believed that what the church experienced then, they are experiencing now. Seeing it not just as history, but as edification and warning for the church of today - as they all apply and “dovetail” together.
True, Nero made people under his rule take the mark 666, or they could not buy or sell. At the current time, Russian government workers are being forced to take a personal ID number with a 666 prefix, so the Russian Greek Orthodox Church is telling people not to take it, rather quit their jobs.
The Revelation given to John is in a nutshell - past, present, and future - and it needs to be heeded in all relevant areas.
To be continued…